Cinco Rios & Estancia del Zorro 

Chile

Chilean owner, Sebastian Galilea and head guide Claudio Joost, do things right and we have nothing but praise for their work at Cinco Rios Lodge and Estancia del Zorro. Located in the Coyhaique region of Chile, both lodges offer diverse and exciting trout fly fishing and excellent guides.

Cinco Rios lodge is a beautiful facility overlooking their primary fishery, the famous Rio Simpson. The Simpson is broken up into multiple sections, each with their own style and character making it a long, dynamic and user friendly freestone. A typical weeklong itinerary would also draw from a number of other regional favorites including the Paloma, Rio Azul, Rio Blanca, Manihuales, Rio Megote, Rio Nireguao, and Rio Deseque.

Estancia del Zorro is located approximately forty-five minutes from the city of Coyhaique, in close proximity to the Argentine border. This wide open rolling hill country is tufted with native pampas grass and home to many red fox (zorro) from which the lodge takes its name. The 15,000 acre Estancia boasts several miles of exquisite private spring creek which holds good numbers trophy brown trout. Additionally the surrounding area has an abundance of condors, eagles, a myriad of other birds, and plenty of unexplored Patagonia fly fishing.

Both lodge experiences offer guests diverse fly fishing, excellent accommodations and meals, as well as wading and float fishing venues for some of Chile’s finest wild trout.

Location:
Cinco Rios is located in Chilean Patagonia, 10 minutes from Coyhaique on the banks of the Simpson River and 45 minutes from the Balmaceda airport.
Estancia del Zorro is located in the Coyhaique Alto mountain range on the Chilean-Argentine border, 23 miles from Coyhaique, Chile and one hour and 45 minutes from the Balmaceda airport.

Fishing Program:
Cinco Rios Fishing Program offers walk and wade fishing as well as float trips on the following rivers:

Rio Simpson: The Rio Simpson tends to fly fish like a classic Montana freestone and has significant caddis and mayfly opportunities. Browns and rainbows average 14-22 inches. However, trout up to 30 inches have been caught on a fly. King Salmon return to this river from early January through mid March.

Rio Paloma: The Rio Paloma float begins in Desierto lake and runs northwest until it meets the Rio Desague. This freestone provides fantastic dry fly and streamer action. Predominantly a brown trout fishery, the introduction of rainbows in the late nineties has proven to be a success. Trout from 14-23 inches are taken from the crystal, clear Paloma waters.

Rio Azul: Located between Lago Azul and Lago Desierto, the remote Rio Azul is accessible by boat only. Flowing beneath the shadows of Cerro Castillo, it is probably one of the world’s most beautiful trout streams. Brown trout from 17-21 inches are quite common with larger fish available. Jet boats are used to access the river and most anglers prefer to wade fish during their day.

Rio Desague: The Rio Desague drains Lago Elizalde and runs for about five miles until it enters Lago Caro. Within this short stretch of river, browns and rainbows in the 17-23 inch class abound with many larger trophies lurking. Jet boats are used to access this remote and scenic dry fly fishery.

Rio Emperador Guillermo: It is one of the jewels of the area, with many pools and riffles loaded with hungry trout that average 12 to 16 inches. Other Rivers: The Mañihuales, the Toqui, the Boca de León, the Coyhaique, the Huemules and others.

Estancia del Zorro Fishing Program
Guests at Estancia del Zorro fly fish a great variety of wild trout waters ranging from five minutes to an hour’s drive from the lodge. Most of these streams are seldom fished and offer exciting dry fly action for trophy fish, some of which exceed 30 inches.

The diverse fly fishing program may include anglers taking a short drive across the Argentine border to fish small wadable streams such as the Highlands, Petragosa, Zorro, and Isabela, which are available exclusively to Estancia del Zorro’s guests. Anglers also can float the legendary Simpson and Paloma rivers. Depending upon the fishery you may find fish from 12 to 30 inches. Much of the fly fishing is done with terrestrials such as hoppers and ants, weather permitting.

Non-Angling Activities:
Biking: The lodge provides mountain bikes for those interested in the nearby trails.

Horseback riding: Horseback riding is available on the Estancia del Zorro property. With only a 45 minute drive, guests can experience a gentle ride on a working sheep ranch.

Hiking: There are some excellent hiking trails close to the lodge; such as the Trapananda or the Aiken park, which allows guests to be introduced to the local flora and fauna.

Sightseeing drives can be arranged for guests as well. Within an hour and a half guests can experience a wide variety of landscapes from the steppe on the east, to the rainforest and fjords in the west. Highlights of the region, include the Cerro Castillo. The Marble caves in the General Carrera Lake, and the Puerto Ibañez hand paintings created by the ancient native Indians.

Condor Viewing: Our favorite tour, “Waking up with the Condors” is roughly an hour and a half away from the lodge. With an early morning departure, roughly 5 AM, guests will drive east to the Estancia that belongs to the Galilea Family. There are numerous cliffs to view the condors up close in their natural habitat as they glide close to the vista.

City tour and Shopping: The lodge is only minutes from Coyhaique, a city of 45,000 people and the capital City of the district. Visitors can enjoy the traditional handcraft shops, restaurants as well as the friendly local culture.

Accommodations and Meals:
Cinco Rios features a beautiful main lodge and well appointed cabins which serve up to twelve anglers per week. The lodge is located directly on the banks of the famous Rio Simpson near Coyhaique. The main lodge has a great view of the Simpson valley from the dining room where both breakfast and dinner are served.

There are six rooms, each with their own private attached bathrooms. Each room is equipped with two king sized beds, sitting area, and exquisite balcony views of the Simpson river. A well stocked fly tying desk is available to guests as well as a welcoming casting lawn down by the river.

Guests enjoy dinners of local cuisine including beef and lamb dishes, fresh vegetables, and Chilean salads.

Estancia del Zorro is a fully restored and remodeled historic ranch house. With six bedrooms, the lodge will accommodate eight guests maximum. Each spacious room has two king sized beds, tasteful decor, air-conditioning and a private bath. Each room features a private balcony overlooking the ranch, the Spring Creek, and the vast pampas plains.

Meals at Estancia del Zorro are wonderful with a menu featuring international and local cuisine. All meals, beverages and a generous wine list are included in the trip cost. The service and hospitality of the lodge is truly first class, with a team of attentive and dedicated staff ensuring your comfort.

Note: Both lodges have a small gift shop for souvenirs such as books, shirts, and fishing items. For those interested in purchase local wool products and Chilean lapis, please ask the lodge hostess to take you to town.

Sample Itinerary:
Day 1: Depart Home
Day 2: Arrive Santiago, Chile. We recommend you overnight in Santiago to acclimate yourself and fly out the next day to the lodge.
Day 3: Depart Santiago for Balmaceda Airport where you will be met by a lodge representative and taken to the lodge. Arrive lodge and prepare for the next fishing day.
Day 4-7: Full days of guided fishing
Day 8: Depart lodge for Balmaceda flight back to Santiago and home
Day 9: Arrive back to US
 

“Cinco Rio and Estancia del Zorro are the ultimate trout destinations. The variety of waters is astounding and the quality of the wild browns and rainbows is truly world class. The spring creek at Estancia del Zorro is the stuff that dry fly dreams are made of. Huge, wild brown trout rising freely to the floated fly and the chance, if you do everything right, to land a fish over 30" on a dry fly. To make all of this even more appealing the Galiea family make it seem like you finally reconnected with old friends in an atmosphere of rustic, but elegant, comfort complimented by fine food and excellent wines. You won't want to come home.”
– Ken Lindsay, owner of The Fisherman’s Spot in Van Nuys, CA

Complete Trip Details